Time On: Cornes’ crude message revealed, as Bec Judd calls for Eddie McGuire to be premier
Footy commentator Kane Cornes has admitted to having a fiery confrontation with a media identity on Friday and delivering a very crude message — and he doesn’t regret “a minute of it”.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Time On is your wrap-up of all the footy media gossip and banter.
Footy commentator Kane Cornes has admitted to having a fiery confrontation with a media identity on Friday.
Cornes crossed paths through the SEN studios at the same time as Dylan Leach, the face of Neds betting, who had been critical of Cornes in the past.
The situation was raised on Triple M’s Friday Huddle with Cornes calling in to clarify what happened.
“I’ll tell you exactly what happened and I don’t regret a minute of it,” Cornes said.
“Dylan Leach was in at the SEN studios. I’ve never met Dylan … I’ve had some correspondence with him online before and he’s been incredibly critical of me online and I thought if I ever see that guy I’ll ask if he’s prepared to say what he’s been saying online to my face.
“I said Dylan, are you prepared to say what you’ve been saying online to my face so that’s exactly what I did. He walked over, I said ‘don’t be a c**t and be very careful’.”
The team, Luke Darcy, Dale Thomas, Nathan Brown, Mark Howard and Damian Barrett, were discussing the issue with Howard saying he believed it was a private issue.
Cornes admitted he had asked Barrett and Brown not to discuss it.
“Are you doing this tonight, be handy for me if you didn’t,” he had written in a message.
Leach posted on X after the story went to air: “It’s been an eventful day. Peace and love.”
Cornes has previously had a tense exchange with Darcy on the program, and has exchanged words with Thomas.
He has gone some way to patching up those relationships ahead of his arrival at Seven.
Cornes is the hottest name in media having won the AFMA’s Alf Brown Award and two other awards.
‘Any chance Ed?’: Bec Judd wants McGuire for premier
Bec Judd has called for Eddie McGuire to be made premier after his comments on youth crime and the Ken Hinkley fine.
Judd reposted Time On’s reporting of McGuire’s comments where he drew a comparison between the AFL’s punitive measures against Hinkley and Victoria’s youth crime crisis.
McGuire disagreed with the AFL fining Hinkley $20,000 for sledging Jack Ginnivan last Friday night, suggesting Hinkley would’ve escaped with a lighter penalty if he had driven to Melbourne to break into Ginnivan’s home.
“Eddie McGuire for premier,” Judd posted on social media.
“Any chance Ed?
“I reckon even the Carlton fans would prefer you over the current leadership.”
Judd highlighted these comments McGuire made on the Eddie and Jimmy podcast.
“Come to Melbourne, go to Jack Ginnivan’s house, invade it with a machete, do that because you don’t get fined at all for that. Or maybe bring the whole (of) Port Adelaide over and cause $30m worth of attacks on police for no reason and no one cares.”
‘It’s OK to sit this one out’: Rohan injury shocks ESPN
Americans have been left baffled after images of Gary Rohan’s stapled head were circulated on social media by ESPN.
The network posted the jaw-dropping pictures of Rohan’s return to Geelong training.
“Australian Football League forward Gary Rohan made a stunning return to training on Monday just a week after requiring emergency surgery on his fractured skull,’’ the caption read.
ESPN has 27.5 million followers and SportsCenter, which was tagged, has 38.9 million.
One of the 5,3000 comments read: “Are the guys elbows made of knives?”
Another wrote: “Mate it’s okay to sit this one out.”
Aussie golf star Min Woo Lee jumped in to explain: “Yes, Australian football is tough, no pads or helmets.”
A picture of Rohan and his wife Madi from his hospital bed was also included the post.
Madi said Gary is recovering well and his surgeon was stoked with the worldwide shoutout.
JB, Billy oust mates in ‘brutal’ Triple M call
Melbourne’s Triple M Rush Hour show is kicking goals with Billy Brownless and James Brayshaw, but their latest one has come at the expense of their mates and colleagues in Adelaide.
Triple M has announced the Melbourne version of the show is set to replace the Adelaide show in what’s been described as “brutal” move.
The axed trio, Andrew Jarman, Bernie Vince and Greg Blewett, have close ties to the Melbourne boys.
Brayshaw is said to be devastated for his best mate Blewett who told the Advertiser that the move “doesn’t make sense to any of us”.
Brownless is also close with Vince, and they appear together on the Saturday Rub.
The shattered Adelaide trio have hosted Rush Hour together since the start of 2021, and in the most recent radio ratings at the end of August, were No. 1 in their timeslot.
It sounds like it’s a purely cost cutting exercise from management.
“Obviously our show was going great and we were rating really well but it’s a management decision in regards to the business,’’ Blewett said.
“Unfortunately we’re the ones that have to pay the price. It was a tough day yesterday. Everyone’s families are feeling it, we’re feeling it … we’ll take the rest of the week off to let the dust settle.”
The program is off-air for the rest of this week but will continue until about mid-November.
Jarman had celebrated 21 years on air at Triple M in November last year.
Billy who?
Speaking of Brownless, he received an apology from a Port Adelaide star after he “cracked it and walked off” after being called the wrong name.
The former Cats forward was speaking with Zak Butters when he called him “Browny”.
“G’day boys thanks for having me on, always a pleasure,” Butters said.
Brownless said: “Good on you Zakky boy, now how are you feeling? Are you OK please?”
Butters replied and continued: “Yeah I’m always good Browny.”
In disbelief, Brownless got up out of his seat while a laughing Brayshaw regained composure and continued with the chat.
"Yeah, I'm always good... BROWNY." 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/VQMTjkreNu
— Triple M's Rush Hour (@TripleMRushHour) September 17, 2024
Every caller who subsequently rang in the show called Brownless “Browny”.
On Wednesday Brownless revealed he’d received a message from Butters on Instagram which read:
“Bill, got my Billy mixed up with Browny. You know I love you. Don’t listen to the haters. All my mates are into me. Zak Butters.”
Brayshaw believes it’s the best moment of the year.
“He’s given us arguably the greatest moment of the year.”
One-eyed Ed
Eddie McGuire was nursing a sore and blood shot eye on television this week.
“If I’m winking tonight, it’s not because I’m doing anything. I’m a bit like Quasimodo at the moment,’’ he said as host of Footy Classified on Wednesday.
“I was walking down the road, you wouldn’t believe this, I walked past a building site and a splinter went into my eye so I’ve been at an optometrist all afternoon with someone’s hand in my eye trying to pull it out.”
McGuire confirmed it was a scratched cornea and joked he was like a “one-eyed Collingwood supporter”.
Three champs and a Ginnivan
Ben Cousins, Dustin Martin, Chris Judd … Jack Ginnivan,
Looks like there’ll be a fair line up of names at the Brownlow Medal on Monday night.
Time On is also told that Clayton Oliver is attending on the Melbourne table.
Hawthorn’s chief protagonist Ginnivan put a call out on social media Wednesday night asking for shoe and suit recommendations, as well as a poll on whether to wear a tie or a bow tie.
Who accompanies him on the red carpet is unknown but it looks like his social media activity isn’t easing up any time soon.
Cousins appeared in a post by a Perth suit brand getting fitted for the night, while another former winner Martin is expected to attend.
Brownlow royalty Chris and Bec Judd are also set to appear together for the first time since 2018.
Pendlebury reveals new career move
Collingwood star Scott Pendlebury is putting his footy brain to good use by joining Seven’s news sport team for the rest of the finals series.
Pendlebury, the 403 game dual premiership and six time All-Australian champion, will deliver opinions and analysis, including on the grand final coverage as a finals expert.
Fresh from a holiday in Europe, Pendlebury was shown the ropes by 7News sport presenter Tim Watson on Wednesday.
“I am really looking forward to joining the 7News sports team for the AFL’s preliminary and grand final weeks,’’ Pendlebury said.
“The month of September is undoubtedly the best period in the AFL calendar. We have never seen a tighter competition and there will be a lot to discuss across the three upcoming games. “To reach ultimate success a lot needs to go in your favour, ever moment matters. I can’t wait to see where it lands this season.”
Chris Salter, 7News Melbourne’s Director of News, said: “He’s won two flags, a Norm Smith, and was on the podium just 12 months ago — if there’s anyone qualified to talk about September, it’s Pendles.”
Pendlebury will make his debut on the news Thursday night at 6pm.
Seven has also announced Bruce McAvaney will re-join the coverage in a key hosting role across the final three games.
Fox Footy host Garry Lyon questioned why the network was using him and Hamish McLachlan so late.
“I’m a massive Bruce man but he hasn’t been there for four years,’’ Lyon said on SEN alongside co-host Tim Watson.
“How did it go down with Brian (Taylor) and Jim (Brayshaw) and the boys. Pulling back a bloke who hasn’t been on your footy coverage for four years for the last week and a half and you’re dragging back a bloke from Paris (McLachlan) who hasn’t been here all year for the Brownlow.”
‘Lungs were closing down’: Lyon’s health scare
Footy broadcaster Garry Lyon is recovering after a difficult week battling “pneumonia type lung stuff”.
Lyon returned to his SEN breakfast show alongside Tim Watson on Tuesday and said he’d spent a few days being treated in a day hospital but also contracted a secondary virus that forced him to isolate.
“I couldn’t talk there for a few days,” Lyon said.
“It’s been a week, one of those weeks that’s for sure. I went to day hospital for three or four days. Just go in and get your intravenous stuff and get out. You just lay in the surgery and get the drip put in and sit there and as soon as it’s empty, get out: that was the negotiation to not go to hospital.
“Pneumonia type lung stuff. Had a couple of health issues going on. I’m well read on them all … lungs were just closing down quietly.
“I made a mistake I think the week prior by working and then flying up to Brisbane.”
Lyon was also back hosting On The Couch on Fox Footy Monday night.
Meanwhile Watson poured more fire on his revelation that one of Kane Cornes’ Channel 9 colleagues had sent a show reel to his soon-to-be employer Channel 7.
Many believed it to be Nathan Brown, was subsequently quizzed about Watson’s comment.
Lyon said: “He couldn’t deny it that person, I wouldn’t have thought.”
Watson replied: “I don’t know whether there was a denial but there was somebody there that looked a bit sheepish after (Cornes) said what he had to say. I think it was Browny.”
As for his own future, Watson swatted away the conversation around his intention to retire from the nightly sports news reading desk.
“When the time is right you and I will have a chat about that. I haven’t been told I can talk about that,” he said.
A baby team at Hawthorn
They’re a happy team at Hawthorn again with baby news bringing some joy to the club.
After Friday night’s heartbreaking loss to Port Adelaide, there was a positive social media post in the aftermath with star defender Blake Hardwick announcing he and pilates instructor partner Steph Tonkin are expecting a baby.
“We love you little one,’’ the couple wrote with a pink love heart.
The pair, with Tonkin showing her baby bump, was pictured in the rooms with Hardwick sharing the image alongside three love hearts.
Also making Hawks people smile was news that club great Jarryd Roughead and wife Sarah had welcomed their third child, a baby boy.
“Welcome our beautiful boy,’’ Sarah wrote on Instagram, posting pictures of their son Will holding the newborn and a picture of Jarryd with Will and their daughter Pippa.
Hardwick’s baby news continues a local boom with Essendon stars Zach Merrett and Kyle Langford expecting their first child, and Collingwood’s Jeremy Howe expecting his second.
Eddie mocks Hinkley fine with youth crime call
Eddie McGuire has drawn a comparison between the AFL’s punitive measures against Ken Hinkley and Victoria’s youth crime crisis.
McGuire disagreed with the AFL fining Hinkley $20,000 for sledging Jack Ginnivan on Friday night, suggesting Hinkley would’ve escaped with a lighter penalty if he had driven to Melbourne to break into Ginnivan’s home.
“My recommendation is for Ken next time, don’t stand 25-30m away in the middle of a football ground and do this one, don’t do that at all,’’ he said on the Eddie and Jimmy podcast.
“Come to Melbourne, go to Jack Ginnivan’s house, invade it with a machete, do that because you don’t get fined at all for that. Or maybe bring the whole (of) Port Adelaide over and cause $30m worth of attacks on police for no reason and no one cares.
“But if you do this the AFL will get onto you. In the meantime we have social anarchy, carjackings, home invasions and no systematic decision on which way we want to go on this.
“I don’t care which way we go, I’m not big on locking people up, my point is … I’ve digressed. The hypocrisy and the carry on between the football media and the wider world is at world-record proportions.”
McGuire also had his say on Channel 7’s coverage of the Hinkley incident.
“Get out with a camera, (and ask) what did you say, what did you do,’’ he said.
“That’s where the story is. And Poor old Brian is trying to do Roaming Brian which is a segment that’s supposed to be lighthearted and jocular so you half ask the question … Brian did the right thing.
“Where’s Mitch Cleary, he’s the chief football bloke, that’s the biggest story coming out of the whole finals series.
“Give him the microphone. We’re going to get this done and we’ll come to you (Abbey Holmes) in a moment over there, this has just blown up.
“No one did anything wrong but my point is everyone running around in football trying to pretend things aren’t happening when they actually are.”
Watson clue sets tongues wagging
Tim Watson has thrown a cat among the pigeons.
While noise gets louder about his own position as Channel 7 sport newsreader — that after 13 years at the desk he’s ready to retire — he also dropped an interesting whisper last week while on the airwaves alongside Kane Cornes.
Speaking to Cornes about the ribbing he’s copped from colleagues since his defection from Nine to Seven was announced, Watson said: “If you want to throw something back at any of them, and I’m not saying anyone in particular, but apparently I’m hearing that one of them is keen to escape he Channel 9 camp as well. And may have been talking to one of the other big dogs out there and maybe even presenting his tape.”
Kane said: “There’s only one that would be bold enough to present a tape I would have thought.”
Tim said: “And I reckon you’re thinking of the right one too.”
Many zeroed in on Nathan Brown, with his Triple M colleagues and Sunday Footy Show colleagues grilling him on the subject.
Admitting he’s not contracted for next year, Brown denied he’d sent a reel to Seven and said he’d be back on Nine.
“It must have been Llordo (Matthew Lloyd),’’ Brown said.
“No that is absolutely wrong. No show reel. No conversation.
“I don’t know who it is but it’s not me.”
Time On has heard one person they didn’t mention, who may be keen for a change, is Caroline Wilson.
Back to Watson and it’s believed Rebecca Maddern, currently weekend news presenter, could replace him in the nightly sports newsreading chair.
The recent hiring of former ABC presenter Karina Carvalho has certainly been noted and appears set to trigger a news shake up.
Dusty gets some sun
Dustin Martin has already surfaced on the Gold Coast, snapped in a picture alongside Dane Swan and a group of friends at Burleigh Heads.
Swan posted a group picture, along with Brandon Ellis and other friends at a baby shower.
The footy world has gone into meltdown over Gold Coast’s confirmation that they were talking to retired Tiger about joining their team next year.
Burying the hatchet
It looks a case of time healing old wounds when Ricky Nixon and Warwick Capper reunited last week.
The pair who traded insults around their 60th birthdays last year, have patched things up with Nixon posting a happy picture with Capper to Instagram.
Capper’s got a new podcast out which has shot up into the top five, while Nixon made it clear he’d separated from partner Melissa Huynh, posting on Facebook: “Never been more distant bc (because) I want to live my life happy and that ain’t with her even though I’ll always luv (sic) her.”
Pie pops question
Many in the footy world were smiling after seeing Collingwood premiership midfielder Josh Daicos had popped the question to partner Annalise Dalins.
The popular couple posted the news from Greece on Sunday night.
It wasn’t the only engagement announcement posted that night with soon to be former St Kilda star Josh Battle sharing that he’d proposed to his partner Casey Ollier.
The couple, who welcomed a baby girl Bobbi in April, were in Queensland when Battle pulled out the diamond ring.
Battle has asked for a trade to Hawthorn.
Dancin Darcy
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore hit the DJ decks in Warrnambool on Friday night.
The footage of him dancing was doing the rounds on TikTok over the weekend.
His partner Dee Salmin was hosting a live session of her podcast, The Hook Up, at Triple J’s One Night Stand.
“We love Warrnambool and live music,’’ Salmin posted on social media.
‘Amazing’: Racing boss Kylie Rogers talks first Cup in top job
Kylie Rogers has raved about her first Melbourne Cup Carnival as Victoria Racing Club’s new CEO — but not without dropping hints at plans to improve the celebrations next year.
‘Super special’: Warnes and Hurleys reunite at Oaks Day
Shane Warne’s three children have opened up on their enduring close bond with Elizabeth Hurley and her son Damian as they enjoyed a catch-up at Flemington.